Elite® Poly-V Belt Wear Gauge

The Elite Gauge allows you to easily check three different types of wear on a serpentine belt

Rib Wear:
This is the most difficult wear to detect on a serpentine belt. It can come in the form of side or valley wear. Side wear is typically from misalignment and can be seen on one side only and will repeat on each groove across the width of the belt. Valley wear is caused by abrasion of the pulley and debris over time.

Rib Cracks:
Signs of rib cracks are indications that the belt is near retirement. If rib cracks happen prematurely and before the expected life of the belt, it may mean that your drive has excessive heat. This may be caused by a bad bearing on the drive.

Belt Thickness
The thickness of the serpentine belt is the easiest visual clue to see if your belt is worn, but it can be deceiving. The grooves of the serpentine belt are worn from abrasion during typical use.

The Elite Gauge is the only tool you need to check the life of a serpentine belt.

Rib wear detection

Place the Elite® Gauge in the ribs of the belt as indicated in Figure 1.

The Elite® Gauge is most efficient at 90 degrees to the belt.

If you see light, then you still have wear left on the belt (see position A).

If you do not see light, belt replacement is recommended (see position B).

Rib crack detection

Place the Elite® Gauge so the 2 inch window is over a section of the belt as indicated in Figure 2.

If you have two or more rib cracks within the window, it may be time to replace the belt.

Other signs of wear that may require belt replacement include (Figure 3)

Two cracks side by side in the same rib and within a half-inch of each other can lead to belt chunking within a short period of time (position A).

Chunking around the circumference of the belt (position B).

Three or more rib cracks are aligned across the belt width (position C).

Belt thickness detection

Signs of rib cracks are indications that the belt is near retirement. If rib cracks happen prematurely and before the expected life of the belt, it may mean that your drive has excessive heat. This may be caused by a bad bearing on the drive.